9-10mm Gem lavender 2 strands (need advice too)

[Kaywal]

Hi, may I ask where you bought them?

I bought them from a wholesale vendor at the gem show in Santa Monica, CA. My husband has his own business--design related, so we were able to go into that section and look around. This vendor had the best prices for this great quality.
They are called Majestic Pearls. These guys were great. Very educated and fun to talk to.

 

[robinmce]

I keep going back and looking at your photos...
Fantastic color and luster on both strands!!!
I would be tempted to make a double bracelet with the second strand so I could admire the pearls!
Robin

 

[Kaywal]

Ok, here's what they really look like!

http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm55/kaywalathon/

High Res!

(The blow up pretty nicely if you click on them individually)

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Barbie

Those are fantastic.

They look great as is, but if I were you I would not start knotting with that strand. Do a bracelet first. You would need some basic tools too. We have a list in one of the beader's club stickies.

I encourage everyone to learn knotting pearls and do it yourselves. It really adds a layer of confidence and expertise to your pearly side.

Ask Jeremy if he will string it for you. If not, try Bella's Finding house- I think they string too. If not get some references from them.

 

[Kaywal]

Hi Barbie

Those are fantastic.

They look great as is, but if I were you I would not start knotting with that strand. Do a bracelet first. You would need some basic tools too. We have a list in one of the beader's club stickies.

I encourage everyone to learn knotting pearls and do it yourselves. It really adds a layer of confidence and expertise to your pearly side.

Ask Jeremy if he will string it for you. If not, try Bella's Finding house- I think they string too. If not get some references from them.

Thanks Caitlin! These pearls are so special to me that I think will have them strung, and buy others to practice with. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Kaywal]

I keep going back and looking at your photos...
Fantastic color and luster on both strands!!!
I would be tempted to make a double bracelet with the second strand so I could admire the pearls!
Robin

Great idea! I love bracelets for that very reason.

 

[Caitlin]

I like Majestic pearls.

I have bought from them at the Gem Mall show in Tucson in Feb 2005-2008.They have show sites on a web page LINK and ways to contact them.

I bought my largest ever klonks from them a couple of years ago.

UPDATE They are in Santa Monica TODAY or is that where you got them?

June 13-15, 2008 Santa Monica, CA
International Gem & Jewelry Show Inc

 

[Kaywal]

I like Majestic pearls.

I have bought from them at the Gem Mall show in Tucson in Feb 2005-2008.They have show sites on a web page LINK and ways to contact them.

I bought my largest ever klonks from them a couple of years ago.

I really enjoyed talking with them. I was just wandering around, about to give up hope on a strand of decently priced lavenders when I found them. Everyone else was charging more for smaller. I'm so thrilled with this strand.

Good to know that you had a good experience with them!

 

[Kaywal]

Yup, was there yesterday.

Heh heh, just looked up klonk--had know idea what that was! Someday, I'd like some klonks!

 

[jerin]

don?t know about smaller pearls being more suitable for a matinee length, I just thought when seeing you wearing your bigger ones that it would be even better to have a "normal" length. About the goldwire = French buillion - that is in Henrietta?s book as well...

Save the other strand until you get something that matches or make yourself a double-bracelet, then you can look at the pearls...

 

[Mervione]

Shame there?s no way for me to buy from that vendor since I can?t visit U.S... Think you can get a strand with the same luster from one of the online vendors? I looked at the pictures in your Photobucket album and could even see you in the reflection... They look nicer than all pictures I?ve seen of freshwaters. I know I might now get that colour, but I?d be very happy just to get the luster.

 

[GemGeek]

Majestic is one of the few vendors I'm sure to purchase from in Tucson. They have booths at the Holidome and at the Gem Mall. If you go, you should visit both, as the better goods seem to switch between them. And they do have a showroom in NYC.

 

[Mervione]

Hmm, maybe I should plan an U.S trip? I could first go to L.A and visit PearlParadise, then take train/plane/bus/whatever to a pearlshow (Of course I?d plan to go in time for one. Can "normal" people get in? Or are they usually a V.I.P thing?) and then I take a flight down to Mexico to visit the Sea of Cortez farm.

 

[Nerida]

Yes, Mervione, I think we should be doing a PG expedition to Mexico...

Kaywal, I'm excited that you are considering learning to string pearls yourself. I agree with Caitlin - start on something less precious to you than your gorgeous new lavenders - there are plenty of beading pearls available perfect for practice! I started on expensive huge keishis - wondered why it was so hard - went back to rounder, more even pearls and wondered why it was so easy! The keishis look so much better too, now that I've redone them a couple of times! Like Inge, knotting has become something I enjoy, and it opens up so many more possibilities when it comes to buying pearls! Caitlin's lessons that robinmc highlighted were my "bible", too! Good luck!

 

[Pearlgully]

So, what will I do with the other strand?

Well, if you still want a longer strand and if your budget will allow, you could make this strand longer. This color should be relatively simple to match up. I have two suggestions: 1- Pearl Paradise sells loose pearls (i.e. loose lavender freshadamas). Talk to Mia or anyone else there. You might want to send them one of your pearls so that they could match them up for you. 2- Call Majestic and speak to the person who sold you the pearls and tell him you want a similar strand.

I never knew that Majestic had such nice pearls. Their office is located only seven blocks from my studio. I am looking forward to taking a nice walk this week!

By the way, if anyone is interested....... United States Pearl Co. will be in NYC on July 25th thru the 28th; at the Antique Jewelry and Watch Show. I think the address is the Metropolitan Pavilion 125 W. 18th St. I am pretty sure that you do not need wholesale documentation to get into this show, however, if you plan to attend please call and make sure.

Gail

 

[Kaywal]

Went back to Majestic just now!

Exchanged the other lavender for a multicolor of the same size.

http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm55/kaywalathon/multicolour/

I've decided to make the lavender an 18 inch strand, and if I end up wanting to go a bit larger I'll only need a couple pearls--I could get them from PP. Thanks for that suggestion Gail!

So instead of having 2 lavender strands. I now have one and a multicolor! I really love this strand. The lavender strand was so unique that they just didn't have anything close, so I think I'll make 2 different 18 inch necklaces for everyday wear.

I talked to Jan at Majestic for a bit, and he walked me through their different grades. I asked to see his very best. We compared his very best gem multicolor to the one I bought, and I must say that they are very close. His super gem strands are perfectly matched for luster and size. The strand I chose is a close second and a little bigger--also rounder to my eye. Works for me!

 

[Kaywal]

Majestic is one of the few vendors I'm sure to purchase from in Tucson. They have booths at the Holidome and at the Gem Mall. If you go, you should visit both, as the better goods seem to switch between them. And they do have a showroom in NYC.

I'm hoping to go to Tucson for the first time. I'd love to see their set up on a larger scale. In Santa Monica, they had a large table of fun dyed fw and brilliant keshi. They had a small case with the gem/AAA what have you strands. How big is their booth at Tucson?
I really dig this company.

 

[Kaywal]

Yes, Mervione, I think we should be doing a PG expedition to Mexico...

Kaywal, I'm excited that you are considering learning to string pearls yourself. I agree with Caitlin - start on something less precious to you than your gorgeous new lavenders - there are plenty of beading pearls available perfect for practice! I started on expensive huge keishis - wondered why it was so hard - went back to rounder, more even pearls and wondered why it was so easy! The keishis look so much better too, now that I've redone them a couple of times! Like Inge, knotting has become something I enjoy, and it opens up so many more possibilities when it comes to buying pearls! Caitlin's lessons that robinmc highlighted were my "bible", too! Good luck!

Thanks Nerida! I'm going to do just what you suggest. I can't wait till I get good at it, so I can swap things in and out to my heart's content. I can be really indecisive. Is there a thread with your keshis? I'd love to see. Any before and after shots?

Mervione--I think an LA to Mexico trip sounds fantastic. All I know about the wholesale area of the Santa Monica show is that you need to have a seller's permit. I don't know if I could get into that area in Tuscon. I hope it works there too!

 

[jerin]

Kay,

Congratulations on your Multi-colour strand! It does look lovely too and now you have at least 2 exotic strands in a real great size as well!

 

[pearllove]

Kaywal,
Both of your strands are gorgeous!! You're so lucky to find the lavender and multicolor exotic strands.